33 replies to this topic

[SouthPaw]

Many pets are "impulse buys". You're at the pet store, see a cute animal, and buy it JUST because it is cute. That's a big NO NO. ALWAYS do your research before purchasing any animal.

So many people buy an animal, not knowing anything about it, and buy all the wrong and dangerous items. Or, they bring the animal home and soon rehome it because it isn't what they thought it would be. Do plenty of research before bringing any animals home, to make sure you can properly take care of it.

Find a breeder, or rescue from a shelter. If at all possible, don't support pet stores. Most animals (even the small ones) come from mills, where they are terribly inbred, and have diseases that may show up later in life. Mills do NOT care about the animals. They don't even think about health and temperament, and that is definitely not something you want to support. Try locating a breeder in or around your area. Search on google for one. If you don't find one in your area, email a few of the ones you DO find, and ask if they know of any around you. They will be more than happy to help you out. Or go to humane society. Animals that come from breeders will get sold; some at the shelter may not. You get the best feeling knowing you SAVED an animal.

Find a good vet, and an emergency 24 hour vet that treats the animal you own. It seems pets always get sick on weekends and at night, so it is a good idea to have an emergency vet in case it's bad. I would recommend finding a vet BEFORE purchasing the animal. Not very wise to start looking for one when the pet gets sick.

Hopefully these tips will help you choose a friendly, healthy animal!

[piethehamster619]

South Paw is right if u know nothing about the pet u buy except that it is cute yo umay buy all the wrong things don't support mills especially puppy mills they will starve their animals if they don't have a good litter i've seen a lot of this on animal planet be sure to know everything you can before buying a pet thats what i always do.

[fuzzball]

Well we are trying to find me a hamster,but we already found 1, we just haven't got it yet.

[Cheeky]

what is a mill?

[panther]

CM~ Where they breed animals, literally, to death. Many dogs and cats come from these places... they have terrible living conditions.

SP~ This is exactly the reason why I'm giving myself so much time before I get a lizard!! I've already done monthes of research but I'm still going to do more... I mean, it's stupid to buy an animal you don't know how to take care of. A lot of people think that lizards don't need UVB lights. Dead wrong. Without UVB rays, the lizard can't digest food.

But I won't bore you to death with my rants about people who are too dense to think something through before buying it.

Edited by Panther_Shadow83, 06 March 2005 - 11:06 PM.

[jennifer_neo]

yes..that mainly the reason for the so many strays cats in singapore. in the neighbourhood park where i stay, there are around 9 of them..mostly are just abandoned there to live and survive at their own. if a animal is used to domestic, letting it into the wilds is not onli main cruelty, it is also a act of selfishness. those cats dun have the choice..they are mainly thrown out in the cold street. it is humans that is the worse...they think they owe the world by deciding the fate of their once beloved friends...it so sad to think humans are so cruel at times...

[smile2374]

yup, i totally agree. My friend's nieghbor has 8 pets, and when we went to their house once, it didn't look like the pets were taken care of that well.

[hammy_fan]

my friend hade no pets, then in about a week she got a dog, a cat, and fish!!!!!!!!!!!
you should always leave at least 1-2 months bettween buying 2 larger pets like puppy kitten ect.........

[AnimeKitten]

this helps alot

[Hamsteys]

yep that is sad good hting my hameis have a good home

[hammie_ham]

that's a good thing you posted this, very good topic!

[Hamsteys]

very good topic

[Haruka]

My brother and I didn't know anything about hamsters when we got Jimmy, neither did the neighbors when they got their hamster.

But luckily, the pet store was a REALLY good one, and now I know a lot about hamsters and so do my neighbors. : )

[ascme93]

South Paw is right if u know nothing about the pet u buy except that it is cute yo umay buy all the wrong things don't support mills especially puppy mills they will starve their animals if they don't have a good litter i've seen a lot of this on animal planet be sure to know everything you can before buying a pet thats what i always do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what if you have already researched it before but didnt get one and now you want one
or maybe you have already got one is that aloud

[Kaylee]

I think that would be allowed because the point is that you shouldn't get an animal before you know what you're getting into. If you've researched it before then you should know what the animal would need. Although it wouldn't hurt to brush up on the basics again.